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(No Model.) y 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. W. BARNES.

COMBINATION TOY HOUSE 0R STRUCTURE. Q

No. 258,212. Patented May 28, 1882. F1 5'- l- 10L. Fi 2 2 W 1 I I I I II I I I W I I I Fig. &.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-sneet 2.

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COMBINATION TOY HOUSE 0R STRUCTURE.-

$16 258,212. Patented-MayZB, 1882,.

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(No Model.) 1 W. W. BARNES. 3Sheets-Sheet 3.

COMBINATION TOY HOUSE 0R STRUCTURE.

No. 258,212. Patented May 23, 1882.

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.lJ rTEn STATES PATENT OEFIcE.

WESLEY WLBARNES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO MGLOUGHLIN BROTHERS, OESAME PLACE.

COMBINATION TOY HOUSE OR STRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,212, dated May 23,1882. Application filed Aprilfi, Iss2. (No model.)

citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State ofNewYork, have invented certain 'new and useful Improvements in ToyHouses, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention employs three boxes-one large containing-box and twosmaller ones with their covers and numerous panels and otheraccessories.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure '1 is a plan of the three boxes,the two smaller ones packed into the larger one. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof, partly in longitudinal section, out on the line 2 2in Fig. l. I Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one of the several panelsemployed. Fig. 4. is a like view of another species of panel. Fig. 5includes a front and end view of one of twopilasters, and Fig. 6includes a side and end view of one of two brackets. The remainingfigures will be described hereinafter. I

Let A designate the large box, and B B the two smaller ones. The box Ais or may be provided with a fixed back or bottom, and is grooved at a,Fig. 2, for the reception of a sliding-lid, which slides in from one endin the ordinary manner. One of its sides is pierced with four holes, 00, two at each end, those at one end being shown in Fig. 2.

Within the box A are fixed two upright cleats, d 01, one being fastenedto each end in the position shown in Fig. 1, and one side of each cleatbeing beveled, as shown. The purpose of these holes and cleats will behereinafter explained. I

Each boxB consists only of four pieces- W0 sides and two encls-therebeing no bottoms.

Both the front and back are grooved at b b to them in place laterally.These proportions of the boxes are of great convenience in packing them,at which time only they are fitted together, as in Figs. 1 and 2. Thelids for the boxes B B are of such length, owing to the proportioning ofthe respective boxes, that their ends may engage the grooves a a in thebox A, and hence one or more of them may be slid sidewise into thesegrooves; or they may be slid endwise into the grooves l) b in eitherside of either box B. This capability admits of numerous differentcombinations being effected with comparatively few pieces. One of theselids or panels is shown in Fig. 3, and lettered G. On its front and backfaces is painted or otherwise marked a window, door, or otherarchitectural feature. The notch 6 will be hereinafter explained. Two ofthe panels should have these notches, and several others should beunprovided with them.

In Fig. 4 is shown a square panel, C, of

Fig. 6 shows a bracket, F, of which there.

are two, relatively reversed-that is, rights and lefts. Each is of awidth equal to the space between the beveled side of the cleat d and theside of the box A nearest said cleat, so as to be able to slide into theintervening space, and its opposite edges are beveled to fit the cleats.Along one edge is a groove, f, and across each end is another groove, 9.l A slot It extends in from one end parallel with and close to onebeveled edge, its width being sufficient to admit the thickness of theside piece of the box A. One corner of each bracket is'cut oftobliquely, as shown at 13.

Having now described several of the elements of my invention, I willproceed to describe it in its entirety in one of thevmany forms of whichit is capable. (Shown inFigs.7

tolO of the drawings.) This form has been selected as embodying, perhapsmore than any other, the most distinctive capabilities of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a plan of a simulated house or building built up from theparts already described, in connection with other accessory parts. Fig.Sis a front elevation thereof. Fig. 9 is a side elevation, and Fig. 10is a horizontal section out along the line 10 10 in Figs. 6 and 9.

To build the edifice here' shown I take first the box A, empty andwithout its lid, and into the grooves a, a, I slide three panels, 0, themiddle one having no notch eand the two end ones having each a notch atthe outer side. The gaps between the panels are filled by inserting thepilasters E and sliding the panels together, so that their edges enterthe grooves in the pilasters, as best shown in Fig. 10. I then set thisbox on its side, so that the architectural design on the panels shall berightside up, and I slide the .two brackets F Fin through the notches ee, the slot h of each bracket embracing the uppermost side of the box A.The brackets are placed, as shown, with their grooved sides facing eachother. Into the horizontal grooves f f, I slide a thin strip or board,G, (shown in Figs. 7 and 8,) which is pierced with arow of holes, j j.Another piece or board, G, like G, except that it is preferably thicker,is laid on the floor in front of the box A, and several round woodenpins, H H, are dropped through the holesjj of the board G, and theirlower ends are entered into the holes in the board G. A thin board, I,is then slid into the vertical grooves g g, and its lower edge rests onthe board G. This simulates the pediment and the pins H H the columns ofa building. I then take the two boxes B B and slide certain panels, 0 orG, into their front grooves, 12 b, using one panel or another, accordingto what design is wished. I have shown panels 0 below and panels 0above, the latter being long panels with ornamental tops, designed onlyas a finish for the fronts of the boxes B B,and not to be applied to thebox A. Those shown in Fig.8 have crenelated tops, while in Fig. 12 oneis shown having its top out in imitation of a steeple.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 7 that each box B has a groove,k, extending along one side close to the back edge. In inserting thepanels 0 and O", as just described, care is taken to insert them in thefront grooves, b 1), remote from these grooves 7c 70. The boxes B B arethen placed on the box A, to simulate the upper stories of the building,being stood on end with the two grooves 7a facing each other. Anotherpanel or panels are then slid down in the grooves 70 k, as shown. Thisgives the appearance. of a deep recess in the front of the building. Ifonly a shallow recess is desired, the boxes B B will be turned withtheir back sides toward the front of the house, as shown in Fig. 11,which is a vertical cross-section through the center of the structure,showing a modified arrange ment of parts. The panels are here shown asomitted from the front of the box A, and the brackets F are inserted inthe box Aagainst the cleats d d, with the inclined side i toward thefront and turned uppermost. A thin board, J, is inserted in the verticalgrooves g g of the brackets, and another board, K, which should bepainted to simulate the shingles or tiles of a roof, is placed ininclined position, its ends resting on the brackets and its lower edgeagainst the strip J.

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of a church built from the elements of myinvention. Fig. 13 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. let is afragmentary vertical cross-section out along the line 14. 14, and Fig.15 is a bottom edge view of the roof-support shown in Fig. 14. Thischurch is made by fitting the box A with its own proper lid, whichshould be painted or marked to simulate the side of a church with itswindows, setting the box on its side, as before, with the side havingthe holes 0 c, Fig. 2-, uppermost. To this upper side are fitted twoinclined roof-supports, L L, each of which consists of a small piece ofboard, inclined on its upper edge and having two pins, 1 1, projecting.from its lower edge and fitting into the holes 0 c. On these twosupports the rootboard K is laid so that its painted side is presentedin inclined position to the observer.

At the end of the church a steeple is constructed by setting one box, B,on the other, both. being set on end, and both having paneL pieces slidinto their fronts. The panelsO are made square to admit of their beingturned either side up, according as the boxB is to he stood on its endor side.

When it is desired to pack the parts of my toy together the boxes B Bare put into the box A, as shown in Fig. 1, the larger piecesG G, H H,I, J, and K, and perhaps 0, are put into the long space M, the smallerpieces are put into the boxes B B, and the lid of the box is put on.

Having thus described my invention, what' I claim as new, and desire tosecure to my assignees by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The combination of box A, having grooves a a, with a smaller box, B,of a length approximately equal to the width of the larger box, havinggrooves b b, and with panels 0, capable of sliding lengthwise into thegrooves 11 b and of sliding sidewise into the grooves a a, substantiallyas set forth.

2. The combination of two boxes,B B, with a larger box, A, having aninternal length approximately equal to the sum of the external lengthsof the boxes B B, and an external width approximately equal to theexternal length of each box B, and with panels 0 G, of a lengthapproximately equal to the width of the box A, and a width approximatelyequal to the width of the, boxes B B, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of two boxes, B B, having grooves b b, and eachhaving a side groove,

7.", with panels 0 G and box A, substantially as 7. The combination ofbox A,havin g grooves 60 a, panels 0 0, adapted to slide sidewise into I5 said grooves, and pilastersE E, having grooves in their side edges,substantially as set forth.

In witnesss whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WESLEY W. BARNES.

Witnesses:

JEROME B. SHAW, HENRY OONNETT.

